Car rental company tried to refuse me hire in US..
Discussion
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I'm sure that you will find that your contract with the U.K. hire company warns you that, and allows them to, export your data outside the EU, and probably specifically to the U.S.
However, if not, complain to
1) DVLA about the U.K. hire company. Presumably the hire company have some sort of contract with the DVLA. I've never done that before, so it may have some effect.
2) The Information commissioner. Although, as far as I can see, they never actually do anything about anything, except make excuses as to why they can't do anything about it.
>> Edited by jeffreyarcher on Wednesday 5th May 17:52
it is a COMPLETE BREECH of the EU data privacy to have done this and not given you the option (OPT-OUT, OPT-IN) on the sharing of your information.
I am NOT a Solicitor(etc) but worked on a policy for a multi-national organisation last year. The relevant parts read:
>> Information that you provide to us: 1. Information that you provide to us: XYZ receives and stores all information that you provide to us. This includes; a) your e-mail address, your credit card number, your credit card expiration date, your first name, your last name, your address, your city, your state, your zip, your country, and your agreement to be bound by XYZ's terms and conditions; and b) telephone information: your telephone number(s). You are obligated to provide XYZ with accurate and up-to-date information, and failure to provide XYZ with such information could void any Agreement between you and XYZ . We use the information that you provide for such purposes as processing your registration request, responding to inquiries, improving our service, and communicating with you.
>> If you consent (Opt-In): Other than detailed above, XYZ will contact you and request your permission prior to sharing your data with third parties. Generally, XYZ will offer a promotional product or service on behalf of a third party, rather than allow the third party to contact you directly. In any event, other than detailed above, XYZ will contact you at the location provided by you at enrollment when we desire to share your information with a third party, or, XYZ will present you with a requesting that you opt-in to any third party mailing "check-box" lists. Should you desire to "opt-out" of any such mailing lists, simply do so by sending an e-mail to:
I am NOT a Solicitor(etc) but worked on a policy for a multi-national organisation last year. The relevant parts read:
>> Information that you provide to us: 1. Information that you provide to us: XYZ receives and stores all information that you provide to us. This includes; a) your e-mail address, your credit card number, your credit card expiration date, your first name, your last name, your address, your city, your state, your zip, your country, and your agreement to be bound by XYZ's terms and conditions; and b) telephone information: your telephone number(s). You are obligated to provide XYZ with accurate and up-to-date information, and failure to provide XYZ with such information could void any Agreement between you and XYZ . We use the information that you provide for such purposes as processing your registration request, responding to inquiries, improving our service, and communicating with you.
>> If you consent (Opt-In): Other than detailed above, XYZ will contact you and request your permission prior to sharing your data with third parties. Generally, XYZ will offer a promotional product or service on behalf of a third party, rather than allow the third party to contact you directly. In any event, other than detailed above, XYZ will contact you at the location provided by you at enrollment when we desire to share your information with a third party, or, XYZ will present you with a requesting that you opt-in to any third party mailing "check-box" lists. Should you desire to "opt-out" of any such mailing lists, simply do so by sending an e-mail to:
As far as the British end is concerned (and I used to work for the largest USA/UK car hire firm), the DVLA requires your explicit consent in order to give out details - they have to speak to you - every time the hire company wants to confirm details with the DVLA. We couldn't do it on the customer's behalf, the DVLA ask security questions just like your bank does. Even regular customers had to go through the same process each time if they didn't have their complete licence on them (car hire firms are obliged by law to confirm these details at the start of each rental, either by seeing the full licence or by confirming with the DVLA).
How did the UK arm get your licence details? Have you rented with them before? If so how long ago? We were obliged to destroy all information after 12 months (governed by DPA?)
>> Edited by julianhj on Wednesday 5th May 21:17
How did the UK arm get your licence details? Have you rented with them before? If so how long ago? We were obliged to destroy all information after 12 months (governed by DPA?)
>> Edited by julianhj on Wednesday 5th May 21:17
Just out of compassion, my story:
I asked specifically for a Golf GTI in Germany from a major airport hire company. Thought the car was sluggish and when I got to the petrol station my girlfriend hopped quickly out and filled the tank with unleaded.
Unfortunately it was a Diesel. Immediately, and without driving anywhere, I called the hire company who sent a tow-truck out. Off it went and a new car came shortly afterwards.
For over a year, I could not rent from them in any European airport.
Sort of (in fact, majorly) daft I would say in that I mistook a Golf Diesel Turbo for GTI, but then again when I drive its an Ultima GTR, or I take the underground and trams.
I asked specifically for a Golf GTI in Germany from a major airport hire company. Thought the car was sluggish and when I got to the petrol station my girlfriend hopped quickly out and filled the tank with unleaded.
Unfortunately it was a Diesel. Immediately, and without driving anywhere, I called the hire company who sent a tow-truck out. Off it went and a new car came shortly afterwards.
For over a year, I could not rent from them in any European airport.
Sort of (in fact, majorly) daft I would say in that I mistook a Golf Diesel Turbo for GTI, but then again when I drive its an Ultima GTR, or I take the underground and trams.
My story too for anyone who is interested. Hired a MPV to go skiing with snow chains. We put them on near our chalet, but after a short distance there was a noise which would indicate that one of them had slipped off slightly. I was driving and was persuaded to keep going slowly against my better judgement, as it was less than a Kilometer to the chalet. Unfortunately before we got there the pedal hit the floor as I and others had feared it would as the chain had severed a brake pipe.
Luckily due to a formidable French speaking Swiss young lady in our party the hire company not only fixed the result of our stupidity, but paid for a taxi to take us all to the garage to pick it up. No extra charges were put on my card, although I may be blacklisted from future hiring I suppose.
Check those snow chains properly PH skiiers !
Luckily due to a formidable French speaking Swiss young lady in our party the hire company not only fixed the result of our stupidity, but paid for a taxi to take us all to the garage to pick it up. No extra charges were put on my card, although I may be blacklisted from future hiring I suppose.
Check those snow chains properly PH skiiers !
Tonker - getting personal info out of the DVLA is as difficult as getting your bank balance. The three things normally asked for are your DOB, post code and either when you passed your test or details of endorsments. they also ask your permission to give your details to the third party in question. AFAIK they are governed by the DPA like the rest of us, so I've no idea how a foreign company can pull them off a computer with no say-so from you. Questions definitely need to be asked.
Best of luck with it.
Best of luck with it.
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